Google Glass Expected to be Available in Less Than Two Years

Google Glass, Google's augmented reality glasses, was revealed in April this year. Back then it was still in the conceptual stage, and there wasn't any physical prototype available. Details on its commercial availability were also uncertain.

However all that has changed as Google co-founder, Sergey Brin, provided details as well as a look at the actual glasses at this year's Google I/O. The glasses sport a transparent screen on the left side of the frame, which is placed above a person's regular line-of-sight so it won't block the person's vision. They are also capable of snapping photographs, recording video access emails and messages as well as surfing the Web. Internet access is made possible via a wireless networking chip though the glasses lack a cellular network radio.

Google Glass weighs about the same as a pair of normal sunglasses, and has a battery smaller than a smartphone battery. Google is currently at work trying to extend the glasses' battery life to last an entire day on a single charge. As countries have different policies on radio-frequency emissions, Google Glass is geographically confined to U.S. developers for the moment. They will be available for $1,500 a pair and will begin shipping to developers by early next year. Brin also revealed that consumers can expect to see them less than a year after the developer units are released and at a lower price.